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Carlisle pensioner admits £20,000-plus benefits scam

A pensioner narrowly avoided being sent straight to jail after claiming more than £20,000-worth of benefits to which he was not entitled.

Karl David Mallory admitted that he obtained housing and council tax benefits from Carlisle City Council while telling officials he was receiving no money from a private pension – which he was.

A judge told the 67-year-old, who looked frail as he appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, that the crime was so serious that he could have been sent immediately to prison.

But, because of his age and after hearing of his health problems, the judge suspended a 60-day jail term for a year.

The court was told the false benefits claims by Mallory, of Lime Street, Denton Holme, were made over four years.

When his case was first heard , he pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefits.

That hearing was told the pensioner was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s, as well as having other health issues to contend with.

While claiming the housing and council tax benefits and saying he had no money from private pensions, he was receiving about £600 a month from four annuity funds.

As well as his suspended sentence, Mallory was ordered to pay costs of £85 and an £80 victim’s surcharge.

A woman has been accused of failing to declare her improving health – and therefore falsely claiming £24,000 in disability benefits.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that Colette Wilson, 40, of Belah Crescent, Belah, Carlisle, is accused of failing to notify the relevant authorities of a change in her circumstances between January 21, 2009 and September 17, 2013.

No plea was entered and she will appear before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court on July 21.